Pontiac outlasts Olympia in virtual twin-bill sweep

Friday

Apr 28, 2017 at 12:40 AM

Indians win two in Corn Belt softball

It started on April 4 and a run in the bottom of the seventh inning forced extra frames. Darkness settled in and the Corn Belt Conference softball game between Pontiac and Olympia was suspended after the 10th inning. On Thursday, that game was completed — after another eight innings — with Pontiac winning 8-5. If that wasn't enough, the Indians were forced to rally in the regularly scheduled contest to complete a sweep with their 4-3 victory. Take your pick on which might have been more exciting on the windy and cold late afternoon-early evening games.PTHS 8, Olympia 5 A quick review of what happened April 4, Pontiac fell behind 4-1 after four innings but scored two runs in the fifth frame and two more in the sixth for a 5-4 advantage. The Spartans pulled even in the seventh, forcing softball's version of overtime. Called after the 10th inning, the game was picked up Thursday at the Diamond de Softball at PTHS. Amanda Fox of Pontiac and Oly's Kaelyn Leverson hooked up to toss scoreless ball for the next seven innings (which is a full-length regular game). There were no serious scoring threats until the 18th inning when Pontiac was able to break the ice. Fox walked to lead off the inning and Regan Krause moved her up with a sacrifice. Krause reached on an error on the play and the Indians had runners on the corners. Maddi Stark walked to load the bases before Aysha Willis grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Fox thrown out at the plate. Kate Roberts then hit a dribbler down the third-base line and Krause beat the throw to the plate, putting Pontiac ahead 6-5 and keeping the bases loaded on the fielder's choice. Madisyn Webster then hit a grounder to third and Emme Olson's throw to the plate made for a close call that favored the Indians as Stark scored to make it 7-5. Catcher Brooke Finchum's foot was clearly off the plate on the play as Stark scored. Emma Jacobs drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Willis to make it 8-5. Olson singled with two outs for the Spartans in the bottom of the inning but a foul out to Krause sealed Pontiac's victory. Fox started the game way back when and came on in relief Thursday. She gave up four runs on six hits and 10 walks in the 12 total innings. She also struck out 15. Krause through the final six innings on April 4, fanning eight and walking two while allowing a run and five hits. Over the two days the game was played, Barnett had five hits that included a home run. She also drove in a run. Fox contributed four hits, including a double, and three RBIs. Jacobs and Willis each had a double and single while Webster had two hits and an RBI. Krause homered while Stark doubled and Kailey Brinkman and Kate Roberts each singled. Roberts also had an RBI.Pontiac 4, Olympia 3 The Indians made the magic happen again in the regularly scheduled game as Jacobs and Fox each delivered two-run base hits to lift Pontiac to a 4-3 victory in six innings. Olympia touched Fox for three runs in the third inning, snapping her string of 10 shutout frames on the afternoon, for a 3-0 lead. With darkness again becoming a factor, the Indians were looking to rally before the game could be called. Stark led off the PTHS fifth with a base hit to turn the lineup over and Webster coaxed a walk. Barnett singled to load the bases and Jacobs ripped a double to center that drove in Stark and Webster. Brinkman grounded out before Fox delivered a two-run single that sent Barnett home with the tying run and Jacobs crossed the plate with the go-ahead tally. The Spartans made things interesting in the top of the sixth inning, which proved to be the final frame. Olympia got a leadoff single and added a one-out base hit to put runners on first and second. Alexis Finchum hit a grounder to Jacobs at short, who threw to third to get the lead runner. Krause then fanned Olson to end the game. Krause struck out seven, walked one and allowed three hits in 3 2-3 scoreless innings for the Indians (14-8, 7-2). Fox allowed three runs, four hits, two walks and fanned one. Jacobs had a double, single and two runs batted in and Fox had two hits and two RBIs to pace the Pontiac offense. Barnett had two singles, Webster tripled and Willis and Stark each had one hit.